January 2010
The New Year started as the last one ended stuck in the depths of winter. Many small birds had moved to the coast or further south and west although there were some notable exceptions where a good food supply was guaranteed. Wildfowl continued to be seen in the Lower Derwent Valley but numbers were generally much reduced due to the freezing conditions. The Whooper Swan herd in the North Duffield area peaked at 167 birds on the 13th with 130 still present on the 18th. Pink-footed Geese were on the move in fine weather at the end of the month, however, with skeins of 55 flying west and 25 northwest over Fulford Ings on the 30th and 31st respectively. Some birds were forced to find new areas in which to feed with 12 Common Teal being noted at Clifton Ings from mid-month and seven at Fulford Ings on the 31st. Around 30 Pintail were at Bubwith Ings on the 14th with smaller numbers present at nearby North Duffield Carrs where a female Scaup was seen on the 24th. Birds seeking refuge on the River Ouse included a drake Goldeneye at Clifton Ings on the 7th and Poppleton on the 9th with 14 Goosanders noted at Clifton Bridge on the 13th. A single Little Grebe was on the river at Fulford Ings on the 10th with two further north at Clifton Ings on the 15th while a winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebe was near Bishopthorpe Bridge on the 2nd and pairs had taken up territory at both Rawcliffe Lake and York University Lake by the end of the month. Unidentified Egrets consisted of one flying south over Askham Richard on the 24th and another dropping in to a field and out of sight near Howden on the 25th. Raptor reports were also few with a male Hen Harrier noted flying over the A169 road near Malton on the 17th and a male Goshawk seen displaying at an undisclosed site on the 30th and 31st while Peregrines were seen at three different localities. Fields to the south of Bishopthorpe attracted 36 Golden Plover and 52 Lapwings on the 31st while c. 30 Dunlin were at Bubwith Ings on the 14th. Two Common Snipe were at Fulford Ings on the 30th and a single Woodcock was in a Poppleton garden on the 9th with two seen at Fulford Golf Course the following day. A Bar-tailed Godwit was reported from Bubwith Bridge on the 17th with a Green Sandpiper noted near Poppleton on the 1st. Over 150 Herring Gulls passed over the River Ouse between York and Naburn on the 31st while owls were well reported this month with Barn and Little Owls at East Cottingwith on the 3rd and one of the latter at a regular roost near Harewood Whin the same day; much more surprising was a Long-eared Owl flushed from a large hedge near Foggathorpe during a BTO Atlas visit on the 30th and a Short-eared Owl reported flying north over Huntington on the 6th. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker observed along Earfit Lane, Copmathorpe on the 4th was said to probably be moving from one woodland to another while 17 Sky Larks were attracted to good feeding at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR during the month. Sizeable flocks of winter thrushes included 50 Fieldfares feeding on a cotoneaster bush at Pocklington on the 9th and c. 60 in the Bishopthorpe area on the 31st along with 30+ Redwings. At least five Marsh Tits were coming down to seed put out for woodland birds in Askham Bog on the 23rd as well as one to two Willow Tits while a Nuthatch was noted in the grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace on the 31st. A belated report of a Great Grey Shrike perched on wires by the A19 near Shipton on the 6th can only ever be counted as ‘probable’ while at least four Jays remained at Clifton Park with a single in a garden at Heslington on the 26th being more unusual as was a report of a Raven flying over North Duffield Carrs on the 17th. Tree Sparrows continued to be reported from a few sites with 40+ at Hassacarr NR on the 27th being the only count received. Over 30 Chaffinches were part of a large mixed flock of finches and buntings at Long Marston on the 3rd while 25 were at Hassacarr NR on the 27th along with 100+ Goldfinches and a Brambling with two of the latter being seen at Fulford Golf Course on the 11th. Siskins have generally been scarce this winter but about ten were in Askham Bog on the 23rd with 30+ attracted to feeders at Hassacarr NR on the 27th. The large Linnet flock at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR peaked at c. 140 birds while c. 50 were at Middlethorpe Ings on the 31st. Over 60 Yellowhammers were at Long Marston on the 3rd with 26 counted at Rawcliffe Cornfield NR on the 11th and 20+ at Hassacarr NR on the 27th while the flock of Reed Buntings at Rawcliffe Cornfield had increased back up to over 100 birds by the 11th as well as 90+ Corn Buntings with over 60 of the latter at Long Marston on the 3rd.

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